Speak Their Language

There is a damaging misnomer that young people speak a different language.

The uncomfortable truth is that it is us speaking the wrong language. Not because it is wrong to young people, but because it is wrong for us. If we're trying to engage young people in their futures, we are we placing artificial barriers in our communication?

I saw a post the other day, which I’m sure was intended to be funny, ?translating the following from “Normal people talk” to “Teenager speak”*:

“Please don’t hesitate to text us if you see anything that needs our attention.”

Becomes:

“sup? HMU if you see anything that is sus.”

I want you to critically review the above two sentences. Which one is actually wrong? Try saying them out loud.

To be honest we all glossed over the first phrase because it is so commonplace. However, I believe that the way we communicate with young people is alien, uncomfortable and unlike anything I’ve heard a human say outside of the workplace. Sure, it gets the information across, but that, in my opinion as a GCSE C in English student, is the minimum requirement for language.

If you were to say the above sentence to a young person, how would you rephrase it? I doubt you would take either of the above options.

One of the things that frustrated me most when I had a fulltime job was the fa?ade we wear as professionals. Why do we all pretend that we have to be ultra-formal in our communications?? Perhaps there are some companies who pride themselves on their brand of being stoic, robotic, and inhuman. I for one don’t know any of them. But alas I’m digressing into the minutiae of branding and tone of voice.

On the flipside, one of the things I’ve learnt from speaking with thousands of young people is that trying to use their terminology and acronyms is equally as bad. Remember, we were once young and trendy, we had our own fashion, words, music and culture that were distinctly ours. Our elders didn’t understand it and that was fine. We were still able to communicate and learn from our elders. As soon as adults try to muscle in on that culture, without understanding or engaging, it is them who become cringe. Not a great way to communicate with your customers or consumers.

Here’s a fun idea:

How about we write, communicate and speak in a way that is more human, to engage young people. Young people, adults, professionals, NEETs, actually all do speak the same language. But professionals muffle and distort communications using the fa?ade that we’ve spent decades indoctrinating ourselves into, via email.

Remember that we’re social creatures. Moreover, just because something has always been done one way, doesn’t mean it always has to.

How would you write “Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you see anything that needs our attention” to make it more human?

Jake

*Ooh and for what it's worth I'm not angry or calling them out.